Capital Research Center

Capital Research Center (CRC)

Background

The Capital Research Center (CRC) was founded in 1984 by Willa Johnson to “study non-profit organizations, with a special focus on reviving the American traditions of charity, philanthropy, and voluntarism.”1Corporate Philanthropy,” Acton Institute. Archived February 2, 2007. 2“About CRC,” Capital Research Center. Archived December 13, 2010. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/nDrg0

Prior to founding CRC, Willa Johnson had been Senior Vice President of the Heritage Foundation, then worked as deputy director of the Office of Presidential Personnel in the first Reagan Administration, and as a legislative aide in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.3Corporate Philanthropy,” Acton Institute. Archived February 2, 2007. 4“About CRC,” Capital Research Center. Archived December 13, 2010. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/nDrg0

The Capital Research Center has expressed concern that “Many charities and foundations now urge lawmakers to expand the powers of the welfare state, regulate the economy and limit individual freedoms.”5About,” Capital Research Center. Archived October 18, 2015. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/RrpI8

As part of the conservative campaign to ‘Defund the left‘ the Capital Research Center produces a range of publications targeting foundations, unions and activist groups that it views as supporting liberal causes.  The Capital Research Center’s monthly publications include the following:6Matthew Vadum. “Defunding the Left,” Capital Research Centre, October 31, 2009. Archived October 18, 2015. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/nkIcE

  • Organization Trends that reports on and analyzes the activities of advocacy organizations;
  • Labor Watch that scrutinizes union contributions and activism;
  • Foundation Watch that “examines the grantmaking of private foundations”
  • Compassion & Culture (discontinued in 2009), which highlighted the “work of small, locally based charities that help the needy.”
  • Green Watch, which it describes as a project dedicated to “monitoring the leadership, activities and funding of the liberal environmentalist movement”7Neil Hrab. ”’Direct Action’: The Tactics of Radical Activism: Part I” (PDF), Organization Trends (Capital Research Center), February, 2004. Archived February 5, 2007. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmogBlog.

The Capital Research Center has also published Patterns in Corporate Philanthropy, which documents corporate donations to non-profit groups. 

Influence Watch & Berman Ties

The CRC launched its project, “InfluenceWatch” to provide what it described as “more fact-based, accurate descriptions of all of the various influencers of public policy issues.” The Center for Media and Democracy’s PR Watch reported in December 2017 that InfluenceWatch was launched as an “Encyclopedia of the Left” inspired by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD)’s Sourcewatch.org.8‘Influence Watch’ Website Launched: Berman, ALEC, Heartland Copy CMD’s Sourcewatch.org Site,” PR Watch, December 22, 2017. Archived March 11, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/km5oA

CMD’s investigation found that the InfluenceWatch project was the subject of a August 16, 2016 CRC grant proposal at the Bradley Foundation. The proposal recommends $125,000 “to support the Online Encyclopedia of the Left.” Bradley staff wrote: “CRC plans to take a page out of Sourcewatch’s play book by ensuring that its new, wiki-style encyclopedia of the Left is thorough, regularly updated, and written in a manner that’s accurate and measured in order to attract and retain a large audience.”9‘Influence Watch’ Website Launched: Berman, ALEC, Heartland Copy CMD’s Sourcewatch.org Site,” PR Watch, December 22, 2017. Archived March 11, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/km5oA

According to CMD, InfluenceWatch was a “signature project” of CRC’s President Scott Walter. Before joining CRC, Walter worked for the PR firm Berman & Company, run by Richard Berman. Berman, who takes pride in his nickname “Dr. Evil,” has set up a chain of non-profit “educational” entities fighting against groups like Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), as well as unions, environmental groups, and others.10Meet Rick Berman, A.K.A. ‘Dr. Evil’,” CBS, February 25, 2011. Archived December 23, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/hZ002

CMD reported that more than one quarter of InfluenceWatch’s funding was being provided by the Bradley Foundation. The Bradley Foundation 2016 annual report detailed $125,000 in funding to CRC, while the budget for InfluenceWatch was $400,000 in that year.11‘Influence Watch’ Website Launched: Berman, ALEC, Heartland Copy CMD’s Sourcewatch.org Site,” PR Watch, December 22, 2017. Archived March 11, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/km5oA

CMD reported that Berman groups had also coordinated with CRC in the past. For example, CMD’s Bradley Files investigation found Bradley had asked the Interstate Policy Alliance, a Berman group, to coordinate with CRC on an assessment of “second tier” states for consideration as “potential targets of opportunity” for construction of right-wing infrastructure. CMD reported on those investments in a six-report series titled “Weaponized Philanthropy.”12‘Influence Watch’ Website Launched: Berman, ALEC, Heartland Copy CMD’s Sourcewatch.org Site,” PR Watch, December 22, 2017. Archived March 11, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/km5oA

Michael Hartmann, Director of Research and Evaluation at the CRC, was given permission to simultaneously as a senior fellow at CRC and at the Bradley Foundation, according to internal documents.13‘Influence Watch’ Website Launched: Berman, ALEC, Heartland Copy CMD’s Sourcewatch.org Site,” PR Watch, December 22, 2017. Archived March 11, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/km5oA

Stance on Climate Change

February 11, 2020

CRC’s investigative researcher Hayden Ludwig wrote at CRC’s “GreenWatch”:14Hayden Ludwig. “You Can’t Compromise with ‘Green’ Socialists,” Capital Research Center, February 11, 2020. Archived March 11, 2020. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/mm60G

“The lust for power is at the heart of environmentalism. Fearmongering is simply the quickest way to convince Americans to surrender their freedom—hence, the ever-looming ‘climate crisis’ that’s been hanging over our heads since the 1970s.

Undoubtedly, the Earth’s climate is always changing, and there’s much more we have yet to learn about it. People who are pro-science and understand the scientific method won’t rest on fake claims about a ’97 percent consensus’ or falsely state that the ‘science is settled.’ Truth—not unanimous agreement—is the object of science.”

April 21, 2015

Steven J. Allen wrote at the CRC blog:

“Years from now, when Global Warming theory is on the ashheap of history with supposed science like white supremacy, Piltdown Man, canals on Mars, Keynesianism, and N-rays, taxpayers will probably still be stuck paying for insane subsidies and mandates for ancient technologies repackaged as waves of the future—wind, solar, biofuels, dippy birds, whatever—and the I-Love-Science-When-It-Supports-My-Prejudices ‘Progressives’ will probably still be pushing policies like the Obama War on Coal, although, by then, they may have moved on to, say, a War on Fire conducted by the administration of President Chelsea Clinton or perhaps President Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky-Kennedy, who will get elected on an ‘anti-dynasty’ platform.”15Steven J. Allen. “Global Warming: 25 years of this nonsense,” Capital Research Center, April 21, 2015. Archived October 18, 2015. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/Ej1r6

June 17, 2014

Steven J. Allen wrote at the CRC blog:

“As regular visitors to this space know well, there is no basis for the claim, put forth by President Obama and other radical environmentalists, that “97 percent” of scientists believe in Global Warming theory. They repeat this imaginary statistic over and over because, when it comes to real science, they got nuthin’.”16Steven J. Allen. “Climate McCarthyism,” Capital Research Centre, June 17, 2014. Archived October 18, 2015. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/52FSQ

June 2006

Bonnor Cohen wrote the following in an edition of the CRC’s publication Organization Trends:17Bonner Cohen. “The Green Counter-Establishment: How It Holds Power” (PDF), Organization Trends (Capital Research Center publication). Archived November 27, 2008.

“Despite environmentalist claims of a ‘consensus’ on global warming, climate science is contentious.”18Bonner Cohen. “The Green Counter-Establishment: How It Holds Power” (PDF), Organization Trends (Capital Research Center publication). Archived November 27, 2008.

Funding

The following is based on data the Conservative Transparency project collected from publicly-available 990 tax returns. Note that not all funding values have been verified by DeSmog. See the attached spreadsheet for additional information on Capital Research Center funding by year (.xlsx).19Capital Research Center,” Conservative Transparency. Accessed October 18, 2015.

Donor and YearTotal
Sarah Scaife Foundation$6,150,000
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation$2,653,320
Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation$650,000
William H. Donner Foundation$635,833
John M. Olin Foundation$617,500
Philip M. McKenna Foundation$526,000
Searle Freedom Trust$445,000
Lillian S. Wells Foundation$390,000
Donors Capital Fund$332,500
Hickory Foundation$301,000
Stuart Family Foundation$257,000
Scaife Family Foundation$255,000
The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation$245,000
Exxon Mobil$225,000
The Carthage Foundation$225,000
Earhart Foundation$222,000
Jaquelin Hume Foundation$175,000
The Randolph Foundation$173,000
The Rodney Fund$150,000
Huizenga Foundation$115,000
The Roe Foundation$110,000
F.M. Kirby Foundation$110,000
Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation$95,888
Dodge Jones Foundatoin$90,500
DonorsTrust$88,650
Bradley Impact Fund$73,000
Chase Foundation of Virginia$61,100
Charlotte and Walter Kohler Charitable Trust$60,000
The Weiler Foundation$50,000
The Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation$42,000
Dorothy D. and Joseph A. Moller Foundation$35,000
Armstrong Foundation$34,500
Aequus Institute$32,000
JM Foundation$30,000
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation$29,000
Barbara and Barre Seid Foundation$25,000
Arthur N. Rupe Foundation$25,000
National Christian Charitable Foundation$20,950
Neal and Jane Freeman Foundation$20,000
Brady Education Foundation$20,000
John William Pope Foundation$20,000
Pierre F. and Enid Goodrich Foundation$20,000
Charles and Ann Johnson Foundation$15,000
True Foundation$11,200
Windway Foundation$10,500
Walton Family Foundation$10,000
The Vernon K. Krieble Foundation$9,500
Richard Seth Staley Educational Foundation$7,500
Joyce and Donald Rumsfeld Foundation$7,500
The Gordon and Mary Cain Foundation$6,500
Tepper Family Foundation$5,200
DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative$5,000
Vernon K. Krieble Foundation$4,500
Floyd Foundation$2,750
Kickapoo Springs Foundation$2,500
The Legett Foundation$2,500
Schwab Charitable Fund$2,000
The Challenge Foundation$1,000
William E. Simon Foundation$1,000
Wodecroft Foundation$1,000
Lynn & Foster Friess Family Foundation$1,000
John Templeton Foundation$250
John P and Kathryn G Evans Foundation$150
Grand Total$15,942,291

Tobacco Industry Funding

SourceWatch found that while the Capital Research Centre was critical of non-profit groups opposing smoking, it was also received funding from the tobacco industry including $50,000 from Philip Morris in 1995.

A 1997 internal briefing sheet on possible questions about PM funding of CRC stated “we have supported this organization for about ten years. Our level of support has averaged about $30,000 a year.20Capital Research Center and the tobacco industry,” SourceWatch. Accessed October 18, 2015. 21CancerScam M message Track,” May, 1997. Retrieved from Truth Tobacco Industry Documents. Bates #2078829061-2078829063.

ExxonMobil Funding

According to Greenpeace’s ExxonSecrets, CRC received $265,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998.22Factsheet: Capital Research Center and Greenwatch, CRC. Accessed March 10, 2020.

ExxonMobil announced that the Capital Research Center would be one of nine groups it would stop funding in 2008 that had been associated with global warming skepticism. Exxon had made a similar promise in 2007, but most of the organizations continued to receive funding.23Exxon Announces Cutoff for Warming Skeptics – Again,” Integrity in Science, June 2, 2008. Archived October 18, 2015. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/OKDy2

Koch Funding

According to the most recent data available from Greenpeace, the Capital Research Center has received at least $699,200 from Koch-related foundations between 1987 and 2015.24Capital Research Center (CRC): Koch Industries Climate Denial Front Group,” Greenpeace USA. Archived March 14, 2017. Archive.URL: https://archive.is/EmhGx

*Original tax forms prior to 1997 are no longer available for verification. If you include these values, the grand total jumps to $724,200 in Koch funding from 1987 to 2015.25Capital Research Center (CRC): Koch Industries Climate Denial Front Group,” Greenpeace USA. Archived March 14, 2017. Archive.URL: https://archive.is/EmhGx

YearCharles Koch FoundationClaude R. Lambe Charitable FoundationGrand Total
*1987$5,000 $5,000
*1988$10,000 $10,000
*1993 $5,000$5,000
*1996 $5,000$5,000
1997 $5,000$5,000
1998 $50,000$50,000
2000 $75,000$75,000
2001 $100,000$100,000
2002 $100,000$100,000
2003 $100,000$100,000
2004 $100,000$100,000
2005 $50,000$50,000
2006 $25,000$25,000
2007 $25,000$25,000
2008 $10,000$10,000
2010$20,000 $20,000
2011$10,000 $10,000
2014$14,800 $14,800
2015$14,400 $14,400
Grand Total$74,200$650,000$724,200

990 Forms

Key People

The following people were listed on the Capital Research Center’s website as of October, 2015. (Sourcewatch maintains records of past Board Members and notable previous staff):26About,” Capital Research Center. Archived October 18, 2015. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/RrpI8

 27Capital Research Center and the tobacco industry,” SourceWatch. Accessed October 18, 2015.

Board of Trustees

Name20012002200720082009201020112012201520162017201820192020Description
Edwin Meese, IIIYYYYYYYYYYYYYYFellow, The Heritage Foundation
Marion G. WellsYYYYYYYYYYYYYYDeceased (1926-2016). Trustee, The Heritage Foundation and The Intercollegiate Studies Institute
Gilbert Collins  YYYYYYYYYYYYTrustee emeritus. Trustee, Intercollegiate Studies Institute
Thomas S. Winter   YYYYYYYYYYYEditor-in-Chief, Human Events
William Meyersohn      YYYYYYYYReal Estate Consultant
Michael Franc         YYYYYThe Hoover Institution
Eric O’Keefe           YYYChairman, Citizens for Self-Governance
Gordon Cummings            YYPhilanthropic Advisor
Robert E. Challey            YYChairman of the Board, The Park Place Group
Terrence ScanlonYYYYYYYYY     Chairman, CRC Board of Trustees. President, Capital Research Center
Constance C. LarcherYY      Y     President and CEO, Washington Legal Foundation
Beverly DanielsonYYYY YYY      Member, Mt. Pelerin Society
Barb Kenney  YYYY         
Daniel J. PopeoYY            Chairman and General Counsel, Washington Legal Foundation
Dean WebsterYY             

National Advisory Board

Name20002002201620192020Description
Adam MeyersonYYYYYPresident, The Philanthropy Roundtable
John A. BadenYYYYYChairman, Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment (FREE)
Larry P. ArnnYYYYYPresident, Hillsdale College
Midge DecterYYYYYAuthor
P.J. O’RourkeYYYYYAuthor and Columnist
Robert L. Woodson, Sr.YYYYYFounder & President, National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise
Walter WilliamsYYYYYProfessor of Economics, George Mason University
Kate O’Beirne YYYYDeceased (1949-2017). Former President, National Review Institute
Christopher Long  YYYTrustee, Intercollegiate Studies Institute
Kenneth R. Weinstein  YYYPresident & CEO, Hudson Institute
Linda ChavezYYYY Chairman, Center for Equal Opportunity
Menlo F. SmithYYY  CEO, Sunmark Capital Corporation
Marvin Olasky YY  Editor-in-Chief, World
Sally Pipes YY  President & CEO, Pacific Research Institute
Michael J. HorowitzYY   Senior Fellow, The Hudson Institute
Michael NovakYY   George Frederick Jewett Chair in Religion and Public Policy, American Enterprise Institute
Richard V. AllenYY   President, Richard V. Allen Company
T. Kenneth CribbYY   President, Intercollegiate Studies Institute
Thomas S. WinterYY   Editor-in-Chief, Human Events
Deal W. Hudson Y   Editor, Crisis
Arianna HuffingtonY    Columnist and Author
Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr.Y    Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Policy, Eli Lilly and Company
R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.Y    Editor-In-Chief, The American Spectator
William E. SimonY    Chairman, William E. Simon & Sons

Fellows

Name201720192020Description
Martin Morse WoosterYYYSenior Fellow
Michael E. HartmannYYYSenior Fellow and Director, Center for Strategic Giving
Steven J. Allen YYDistinguished Senior Fellow

Staff

Name199920002001200220062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720192020Description
Christopher Krukewitt    YYYYYYYYYYYYYYChief Financial & Operations Officer
Scott Walter           YYYYYYYPresident
Dan Thompson             YYYYYVice President of Philanthropy & Development
Beth Bottcher               YYYPhilanthropy Officer
Heather Cordasco               YYYPhilanthropy Officer
Joseph (Jake) Klein               YYYFilm & Video Producer
Kristen Eastlick               YYYSenior Vice President
Michael Watson               YYYResearch Director
Ashley Rae Goldenberg                YYInvestigative Reporter
Caleb Sutherlin                YYSocial Media Coordinator
Catherine Heravi                YYStaff Accountant
Erin Demma                YYPersonnel, Events, & Operations Coordinator
Hayden Ludwig                YYInvestigative Researcher
Ken Braun                YYSenior Investigative Researcher
Michael E. Hartmann                YYSenior Fellow and Director, Center for Strategic Giving
Robert Stilson                YYResearch Specialist
Shane Devine                YYResearch Assistant
Carolyn Brandt                 YAdministrative Assistant
Jon Rodeback                 YManaging Editor and Director of Content
Bridget Rossi                Y Development Assistant
Matthew Vadum     YYYYYYYYYYY  Senior Vice President
Steven J. Allen           YYYYY  Distinguished Senior Fellow
Chenelyn Barker               Y  Development Associate
Ian Johnson               Y  Development Assistant
Tyler Stone             YY   Office Manager
Terrence ScanlonYYYYYYYYYYYYYY    Chairman, CRC Board of Trustees. President, Capital Research Center
Jana Marie Erwin      YYYYYYYY    Development Associate
Gordon Cummings     YYYYYYYY     Philanthropic Advisor
Jeffrey Shifflett           YY     Office Manager
Robert HubertyYYYYYYYYYYY       Executive Vice President and Director of Research
Matt Patterson        YYY       Senior Editor, Labor Watch and Green Watch
Peter J. Lee          Y       Office Manager
Douglas Walker         Y        Office Manager
Phil Brand     YYYY         Director, EducationWatch
Brent Jordan        Y         Office Manager
Jill K. LaceyYYYYYYYY          Editor, Compassion and Culture
Larry Farnsworth     YYY          Director, Communications
Luke Lee     YYY          Office Manager
Eric Heidenreich       Y          Director, Green Watch and State Environmental Watch
Patrick ReillyYYYYYYY           Editor, Labor Watch
James Dellinger    YYY           Executive Director, GreenWatch and StateWatch
Jeremy Lott      Y           Editor, Labor Watch
Daniel Patrick Head     Y            Development Associate
Tara WheelerYYYYY             Staff Assistant
Eric Blowers   YY             Director of Development
David Hogberg    Y             Research Associate and Executive Director, GreenWatch and EducationWatch
Robert Volmer    Y             Director of Communications
Stephen DeMauri    Y             Development Associate
Gene Edward Veith, Jr.YYYY              Senior Fellow
Jeffrey GaynerYYYY              Visiting Fellow
Martin Morse WoosterYYYY              Senior Fellow
Christopher Morris  YY              Research Associate
Ivan G. Osorio  YY              Research Associate and Editor, Labor Watch
David Riggs   Y              Executive Director of Green Watch
Jennifer Gustafason   Y              Vice President and Director of Development
John Carlisle   Y              Research Associate and Editor, Foundation Watch, Organization Trends
Pam Witherspoon   Y              Director of Administration
Christopher YablonskiYYY               Research Associate
Daniel T. OliverYYY               Research Associate and Editor, Alternatives in Philanthropy
Marvin OlaskyYYY               Editor-in-Chief, World
Andrew Walker YY               Director of Communications and Congressional Liaison
Pam Perry YY               Manager, Administration
Tom Ivancie YY               Vice President and Director of Development
Matthew Roche  Y               Development Associate
Christopher Summers Y                Research Associate
Philip F. Kelly Jr. Y                Research Associate
William Baron Y                Development Associate
Chad CowanY                 Director of Communications and Congressional Liaison
Eric HeubeckY                 Research Associate
Julie TaylorY                 Director of Development
Loren SmithY                 Development Associate
Paul TaiwoY                 Office Administrator

Other People

Tom Holt, appears to have been a past CRC “visiting fellow.” Holt has advocated legal reforms that would make it more difficult to sue corporations on the premise that “the consumer movement has imposed significant costs on industry–costs ultimately passed on to consumers–and has violated individual freedoms in a futile effort to protect us from our own actions and judgment.”28SLAPP Happy: Corporations That Sue to Shut You Up,” PRWatch, Second Quarter 1997, Volume 4, No. 2. Archived March 8, 2012. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/MmAti

Actions

December 16, 2019

CRC’s GreenWatch wrote an article alleging electric vehicle subsidies are a transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich.29Hayden Ludwig. “Big Green Lobbies to Steal from the Poor and Give to the Rich,” Capital Research Center, December 16, 2019. Archived March 11, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/FAd49

“Electric cars are a luxury item purchased almost exclusively by the rich,” CRC’s Hayden Ludwig claimed in the article. He also claimed, “ electric vehicles won’t save Mother Earth.” He then points to metals used in electric vehicle battery manufacturing—an issue DeSmog’s Koch vs Clean project has outlined, showing EV batteries use fewer rare earths than oil refining or gas-powered cars.30Hayden Ludwig. “Big Green Lobbies to Steal from the Poor and Give to the Rich,” Capital Research Center, December 16, 2019. Archived March 11, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/FAd49

“Americans would be better off letting the market decide the fate of electric cars—anything else means stealing from the poor to give to the rich,” Ludwig concluded.31Hayden Ludwig. “Big Green Lobbies to Steal from the Poor and Give to the Rich,” Capital Research Center, December 16, 2019. Archived March 11, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/FAd49

Koch vs Clean has debunked many of the common oil industry talking points about electric vehicles, and includes a summary of how the EV tax credit benefits drivers of all income levels.32Hayden Ludwig. “Big Green Lobbies to Steal from the Poor and Give to the Rich,” Capital Research Center, December 16, 2019. Archived March 11, 2020. Archive URL: https://archive.vn/wip/FAd49

October 25, 2019

CRC’s project, Dangerous Documentaries, produced a film starring comedian Adam Carolla and Dennis Prager titled No Safe Spaces. The film, according to CRC, “will expose the safe space culture that is undermining American universities.”33UPCOMING FEATURE FILM: No Safe Spaces,” Capital Research Center, June 30, 2017. Archived March 11, 2020. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/6bgDL

“This film will expose the sad state of free speech, the unwillingness of students to be challenged by new ideas, and “the grievance culture” of “safe spaces” that are undermining the intellectual foundations of American universities. The project looks at those who have been silenced for expressing opinions that violate the new sacred writ of postmodern views on race and gender, which means acceptance of all except for those who think differently,” The CRC wrote in 2017, describing the upcoming film.34UPCOMING FEATURE FILM: No Safe Spaces,” Capital Research Center, June 30, 2017. Archived March 11, 2020. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/6bgDL

One reviewer at Los Angeles Times wrote: “What might have been a pertinent, evenhanded examination of the notion of free speech on today’s college campuses wastes little time in exposing an overwhelmingly right-leaning bias in the disappointingly sensationalistic agitprop that is ‘No Safe Spaces.'”35Michael Rechtshaffen. “Review: Free speech doc ‘No Safe Spaces’ clearly sides with one set of voices,” Los Angeles Times, November 24, 2019. Archived March 11, 2020. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/qzwwy

May 8, 2017

CRC, represented by Steven J. Allen, is listed on an open letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him “to withdraw fully from the Paris Climate Treaty and to stop all taxpayer funding of UN global warming programs.”36“Dear Mr. President” (PDF), retrieved from Competitive Enterprise Institute. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

DeSmog reported that the 40 groups represented in the letter, including the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), The Heartland Institute, and the Heritage Foundation, have received a combined total of millions of dollars from the Koch Brothers, ExxonMobil, and other industry groups.37Graham Readfearn. “Conservative Groups Pushing Trump To Exit Paris Climate Deal Have Taken Millions From Koch Brothers, Exxon,” DeSmog, May 10, 2017.

Analysis also showed that the groups accepted about $80 million through Donors Capital Fund and Donors Trust, two groups that have been confirmed is a key financial source for key U.S-based climate change denial groups.38Susanne Goldberg. “Conservative groups spend up to bn a year to fight action on climate change,” The Guardian, December 20, 2013. Archived May 12, 2017. Archive URL: https://archive.is/TB2yy

February 22–25, 2017

The Capital Research Center was a Contributing Sponsor of the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), among a range of other conservative and pro-industry groups.39CPAC 2017 Sponsors,” cpac.conservative.org. Archived March 6, 2017. Archive URL: https://archive.is/SKFRU

According to CRC, their panels included “21st Century Labor Reform: A Better Way for Workers,” on February 23, “Revolt of the Deplorables: Inside Election 2016” on the 24, and “Is Political Correctness Killing U.S. Institutions?” on the 25.40Capital Research Center is live at CPAC 2017!Capital Research Center, February 22, 2017. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. Archive URL: https://archive.is/Z4e0T

April 1, 2015

The Capital Research Centre staff wrote an article defending Willie Soon, claiming that “Leftist politicians and the media try to blacklist scientists who are skeptical about Global Warming,” and that the outing of Soon’s significant fossil fuel funding by groups like Greenpeace has been a “Witch-Hunt.”41Witch-Hunt 2015: Leftist politicians and the media try to blacklist scientists who are skeptical about Global Warming,” Capital Research Centre, April 1, 2015. Archived October 18, 2015. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/3lTIK

Willie Soon was criticized when Greenpeace obtained documents regarding his funding through the Freedom of Information Act, revealing that there were at least 11 times that Soon failed to disclose fossil fuel funding in papers he had published between 2008 and 2015.42Lisa Song. “A Guide To Willie Soon’s Climate Research Funded by Fossil Fuel Companies,” InsideClimate News, February 23, 2015. Archived Dec 24, 2019. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/8zcMd

August 2002

Terrence Scanlon of CRC was a signatory to a letter to President Bush, applauding his decision not to attend the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg.

“Environmentally and socially irresponsible corporations and their operatives are lobbying the Administration to snub the Summit and halt any progress toward addressing environmental accountability and global climate change,” said Friends of the Earth President, Dr. Brent Blackwelder.43(Press Release). “Corporate-funded Lobbyists Aimed to Sabotage Johannesburg Summit,” allAfrica.com, August 19, 2002. Archived April 29, 2003. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/NQslY

September 2001

In the press release launching the Greenwatch site in the fall of 2001, Rep. Butch Otter (R-ID), called the groups included in the Greenwatch database “extremists,” and declared the purpose of the database was to “monitor and keep the extremists in check.”44Betsy Z. Russel. “Green extremist site launched,” Spokesman Review, September 14, 2001. Archived June 14, 2012. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/snLZo

1990s

The Capital Research Center published studies criticizing charities such as the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society for their anti-tobacco lobbying efforts.45T Friend, “Charities anti-tobacco lobbying is criticized,” USA Today, Bates no 2023914980, June 28, 1990.

CRC was later criticized, and it was revealed that Phillip Morris had provided $50,000 in funding to the Capital Research Center.46White J, Bero LA (February 2004). “Public health under attack: the American Stop Smoking Intervention Study (ASSIST) and the tobacco industry”. Am J Public Health, 94 (2): 240–50. doi:10.2105/AJPH.94.2.240. PMID 14759933. PMC 1448234.

CRC has also published reports on the “Anti-Smoking Movement,” to which select PM staff were given advance copies.47PM, PHILIP MORRIS,MARDEN,RE. 1994 September 06. Bates Number: 2044720167.

Capital Research Center Contact & Location

The Capital Research Center lists the following contact information on its website:48Contact,” Capital Research Center. Archived March 10, 2020. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.vn/wip/BmhGK

Capital Research Center
1513 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 483-6900
(202) 483-6990 (fax)

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